Trading Flurry Moves Podollan To Maple Leafs
The Florida Panthers, seeking to fill the void left by Brian Skrudland’s injury, acquired center Kirk Muller from the Toronto Maple Leafs as NHL teams engaged in a flurry of deals just before the trading deadline.
In exchange, the Maple Leafs obtained 21-year-old right wing, and former Spokane Chief, Jason Podollan, who has one goal and one assist in 19 games with the Panthers.
Podollan was then loaned to St. John’s of the American Hockey League along with right wing Zdenek Nedved and goaltender Marcel Cousineau.
Toronto, in a bid to cut their payroll even more, also sent defenseman Larry Murphy to Detroit for future considerations and obtained right wing Kelly Chase from Hartford for a 1998 eighth-round draft pick.
Muller, 31, had 20 goals and 17 assists for Toronto.
In all, there were 18 trades involving 35 players before the deadline, one trade short of the record 19 moves made at the trading deadline in 1995. The 35 players involved ties the previous high set in 1994.
The Edmonton Oilers sent defenseman Jeff Norton to Tampa Bay for defenseman Drew Bannister.
The Oilers also sent forward Miroslav Satan to Buffalo for defenseman Craig Millar and left wing Barrie Moore, and assigned left wing Barrie Moore to Hamilton of the AHL.
Elsewhere:
The Anaheim Mighty Ducks acquired center Richard Park from the Pittsburgh Penguins for right wing Roman Oksiuta and sent left wing Jon Battaglia and a 1998 fourth-round draft pick to Hartford for center Mark Janssens. Hartford also sent Alexander Godynyuk to the minors.
Montreal made two trades with Phoenix. They sent defenseman Murray Baron and right wing Chris Murray to the Coyotes for bruising defenseman Dave Manson, then sent No. 3 goalie Pat Jablonski to Phoenix for minor-league defenseman Steve Cheredaryk, who was immediately assigned to Fredericton of the AHL. Phoenix then turned around and sent Murray to Hartford for defenseman Gerald Diduck.
The New York Islanders acquired center Robert Reichel from Calgary for left wing Marty McInnis, goalie Tyrone Garner and a 1997 sixth-round draft pick. They also sent left wing Derek King to Hartford for a 1997 fifth-round draft selection, and recalled left wing Ken Belanger from Kentucky of the AHL.
The Los Angeles Kings sent veteran center Eddie Olczyk to Pittsburgh for right wing Glen Murray and recalled right wing Brad Smyth from the minors.
The Vancouver Canucks claimed defenseman Steve Staios on waivers from the Boston Bruins.